Aeroplane propeller



Jan. 24, 1928. 1,657,119

H. B. FUNCK AEROPLANE PROPELLER Filed April 17. 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR Ha /9&0 B. Haw/r BY a/ C TORNEY Jan. 24, 1928. 1,657,119

H. B. FUNCK AERDPLANE PROPELLER File d April 17. 1926 2 sheets-snag 2 I I a sary in order to Patented Jan. 24, 1928.

UNITED STATES HAROLD B. FUNCK, OE SEATTLE, WASHINGTON.

AnnoPLANE rnornnnnn.

Application filed April 17, 1926. Serial No. 102,721.

This invention relates to improvements'in aeroplanes and more particularly to the construction of horizontally revolving propeh lers for aeroplanes of the helicopter type; it being the principal object of the invention to provide propellers capable of producing a much greater lifting power than has heretofore been possible, and wherein provision is made for manual adjustment of the propeller planes in order to increase or decrease the lifting power and to thus control the ascent or descent of the plane.

More specifically stated, the object of the invention resides in the provision of a horizontally revolving propeller comprising a plurality of wing sections extending radially from a vertical supporting and driving shaft, and wherein each wing section em bodies a plurality of planes arranged in independent groups and in closely spaced, parallel relation; each group ofplanes being pivot-ally supported at its ends and connected with means whereby the incline or tilt may be adjusted as is desired or necesproduce a greater or lesser lifting effect. i

Other objects of the invention reside in the various details of construction of the plane sections and in the means for eflecting an adjustment, as will be fully described in thefollowing specification.

In accomplishingthese objects of the invention, I have provided the improved cletails of construction, the preferred forms of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein V Figure 1 is a top, or plan, of an aeroplane equipped, with a horizontally revolving propeller constructed and mounted in accordance with the details of the present invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged, vertical section of the propeller taken on the line 22 in Figure 1, showing the manner of mounting the propeller planes and means whereby their incline maybe regulated.

Figure 3 is an enlarged, cross section through one ofthe 1, )ropeller"wings taken on the line 83 in FigureQ, illustrating the disposition of the several groups of planes within'the win t Figure t is a horizontal section taken on .the line i i in Figure 2, illustrating the means for adjusting the planes.

, end plate 11.

Figure 5 is a cross section on line 5- -5 in Figure 2, showing the means iilterconnect- 111g the groups of planes within the wing. Referring more in detail to the draw 1ngs. a

l designates what may be an aeroplane of the common t pe now generally inuse, with the exception of the usually provided wings or planes, and 2 designates, in its entirety, a propeller of the type embodied by the present invention and which is mounted on the aeroplane to revolve in a horizontal plane;

the propeller being supported. and driven bymeans of a vertical shaft 3 which is fixed revolubly within bearings 4i and 5 secured to the body of the aeroplane. The shaft is adapted to be revolubly driven by, any suitable means, such as by an engine carried within the plane, and which would be equipped with a driving shaft as herein designated at 6 having geared connection, as at I in Figure 2, with the lower end portion oftheflpropeller shaft, it"

The propeller herein shown is intended primarily for lifting, the plane vertically, and while I have not illustrated the aeroplane as equipped with the usual wings for porting and driving shaft 3. Each Wingof the propellercomprises a frame made up of upper and lower horizontal plates 9 and lO which arc mounted in vertically spaced relation on the upper end of the driving shaftand are bowed symmetrically toward each other toward their outer ends and are rigidly joined at their ends by avertical Located between the upper and lower frame plates of each wing, is a plurality of groups ofplanes 12; each group of planes as herein illustrated comprising. fiveplanes that are arranged in parallel. relation-and which at their outer ends, are securely attached to vertical end plates 13 and, at their inner ends, to vertical plates 14. Each group of planes is pivotally mounted bymeans of trunnions, or pivot bolts,,15 that are fixed to the outer end plates and extended pivotally through the frame end plate 11, and at their inner ends, are supported? by trunnions 16 extended through supporting bearings 17 carried by the vertical bars 19 of frame structures that are titted within and secured to the propeller the groups of planes are connected so that they may be tilted equally and all actuated simultaneously from a'eonnnon control.

'lheineans proiidectfor tiltingv the planes comprises a sleeve 20 that iavelrtically slidablefon the driving shaft 3 and is keyed tlieretoso that; it. revolves with the shaft. The sleeve is adjustable vertically by means of a lever 21 that is pivotally supported at a point betweenits: ends by a pivot bolt 22 from a bracket 23 that is tired to the body of the plane, and at one end has a pivotal connection at 24} with a ring 25 that is revol'ubly fixed to thelower end of the sleeve. At its outer e 11d,the lever hasa slot 26 through which a bolt 27' that is fixed to the frame of the plane extends. A hand operated nut 28 is threaded onto the bolt: and extended'through thesl'ot in the lever and, by its adjustment,the lever may actuated to raise or lower the sleeve. 1

The supporting trunnions 1 6, at the inner ends of the two central groups ofplanes in each wing, extend inwardly and at their inner ends are provided with cranks 30 which are connected, by. means of links 31, with cars 32 formed on'the upper endof the sleeve 20 so that, by vertical adjustment of the sleeve. the trunnions will be caused to be rotated and, by theirrotation, will changethe tilt 0r incline-of the planes in each group. The planes of the outer groups in each wing are connected so as to be adjustable fronrthe central groups by means comprising crank arms 35 that are fired. to the inner ends of the supporting trunnions 1(5 and cross bars 37 which connect these crank arms with cranks 38 that aro fixed to the trunnions of the central groups, as is shown best in Figure A propeller of this type preferably would be constructed of a light, durable i'i'iat'erial such as aluminum alloy and the planes would he composed of relatively thin sheets of aluminum secured at their ends tothe plates 13 and 14! The planes may be kept taut by means oftightening nuts 40 thatare threaded onto the supportingtrunnions 16 against the supporting bearings.

While I have illustrated each Wing to contain six group otfive planes each it-is reatlconstructed and rcvoluhly driven in a l1ori- Zontal plane will efi'ect a: much greater lift mg power than is possible by the use ot a single plane in each wing, and that the li'ttmg power may be varied by tilting: the

plauesto different angles, While I do not contend thatthe littlng mwerofsueh a propelleriucreasesin proportion to theiruunlfier of planes used-,atr' believertthat the lifting;

power is materially increased bythe use of a multiplicity of planes arranged so that each plane will receive the air against its under side. V 1 a p It is further apparent tl'iatthe planes 15% need not be pivotallymounted it this is not desired, but could be fixed rigidly within the frame oi the propeller at a certain pitch whichnii'ght he found to be the most tesirable.

I claim as new therein and desiretosecure by Letters Patent, is: a p l p 1 A propeller ofthe character described comprising a lrorizontally revoluble frame or Having thus described my inventioiuWhat structure embodying a plurality of radially directed wings eaeh wing containing aplhrallty of horizontally disposed and -p1yotally n'iountedi groups ofiplanes with the planesot' each group ipeiananently fixed in closely spaced, parallelrelation one above the other, and means for sinulltaneously adjusting the pitch otall oi the groups of planes.

2. A propellerof the character described comprising a horizontally reuoluble frame structure embodying aplurality of radially directed wing: sections, each wing comprismg upper and lower spaeedapart frame plates that-are bowedtoward each other toward their outer ends and joined by a vein tical end plate, a plurality of groups oi. planes mounted within each wing section; said planes of each group hciu g disposed lengthwise ofthe wing'r in closely spaced relation, trunnions pivotall'y supportiup the several groups of planes in the wings 1 and means operable to simultaneously adjust the pitcl'i of all ofthe planes.

3. A propeller of'the character described eomprisi'nga vertical, revolubly driven shaft, a propeller frame fixed to the upper end of the shaft to revolve therewith in a horizon tal plane, said propeller frame being of cross form with wing sections extendedfradially from the shatl i each w n-g comprising upper and lower :Era 1110 plates and connecting plates at then-ends, a plurality of groups of planes mounted in each Wing section longitudinally thereof; each group comprising a plurality ol parallel spaced planes, fixed at their ends to inner and'outer end plates, trunnions fixed to said end plates for pivotally mounting the groups of planes and means for adjusting the planes to different pitch and for retaining them at dilferent positions of adjustment.

Signed at Seattle, Vashin g'ton, this 8th day of April, 1926.

HAROLD B. FUNCK. 

